Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT2033

Introduction: The vagal paraganglioma (VP) arises from paraganglionic tissue located along the vagus nerve. This neoplasm represents less than 5% of all head and neck paragangliomas. Advances in imaging have aided the diagnosis and assessment of this disease.

Aim: To study clinical presentation, radiological features and therapeutic management of vagal paraganglioma through a case report and review of literature.

Observation: A 66-year-old patient with a history of total thyroidectomy followed by iratherapy for papillary thyroid carcinoma consulted for a 2cm high laterocervical swelling in the left IIA sector, mobile and firm. The rest of the ENT examination was without abnormalities. The cervical ultrasound suggested a lymph node recurrence of her thyroid carcinoma. The cervical CT scan showed a left subangulo-mandibular formation, oval, opposite the carotid glomus, heterogeneous, richly vascularized with an intense and heterogeneous PDC suggesting adenomegaly of suspicious appearance, given the clinical context. The patient underwent a cervicotomy. Intraoperatively, the mass was richly vascularized, adherent to the vagus nerve and located at the level of the left carotid bifurcation. A complete excision of the mass was performed with simple postoperative course. The final anatomopathological examination of the surgical specimen concluded that it was a vagal paraganglioma. No recurrence or metastasis was noted after a 2-year follow-up.

Conclusion: Vagal paraganglioma, although rare, should be part of the differential when faced with a hypervascular cervical mass to avoid intraoperative surprises.